Light-weight and Low Cost Composite Cryotank

This effort involves the unique layered, or material gradient, approach to the development of an all-composite cryogenic fuel tank suitable for the containment of liquid oxygen. New epoxy and urethane resins systems are developed for performing well in a high strain and cryogenic environment. The new matrix resins are combined with filament wound carbon fiber layers, woven fabrics, woven preforms and nonwoven fiber layers designed to minimize cracking and developing a leak path. The innermost layers are a distinctly different than the outermost layers and each is developed to maximize their performance and to minimize weight of the tank structure. The approach is to develop the ideal material and tank design for this application rather than to get by with a marginal material that is meant for other applications. The new technology is demonstrated on small test panels to develop material properties and to quantify leak rate if any. The down-selected materials are applied to 24 diameter sub-scale tanks that are tested in a relative cryogenic and higher strain environment. The performance of the 24 vessel will be used to scale up to a 72 diameter composite tank structure and demonstrate an improved cost savings.